Fabric tensioning and fastening device



Jan. 31, 1933. J. w. STEELE FABRIC TENSIONING AND FASTENING DEVICE Filed March 4, 1952 INVENTOR.

l atented Jan. 31 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT FABRIC TENSIONING AND FASTENING DEVICE Application filed. March 4,

This invention relates to fabric tensioning and fastening devices and it has particular reference to a device by means of which fabric or other similar material may be tightly drawn and secured.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device by means of which fabric may be tensioned and secured in a desired position, and which is capable of releasing the fabric from such position with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is compact and durable and which is concealed by the fabric which has been tensioned.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particular reference to its salient features of construction and operation of parts, to become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 13 a view of one of the applications of the invention, showing the device installed on the underside of an ironing board.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the invention, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the invention taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Continuing with the drawing, 1 designates a board or other material over which the fabric 2 is to be tensioned. The invention consists of a base portion 3 which is rigidly mounted on the board 1 by means of screws or the like through the holes t in the base portion 3.

Connected to the base portion 3 by a hinge 5 is a leaf member 6, on which projections 7 are mounted, extending at right angles to the plane of the leaf member 6. Then the leaf member 6 is swung into contact with the base portion 3, the projections 7 are loosely received in openings 8 in the base portion 3.

Mounted on the forward edge 9 of the base 3 is a spring latch 10 which may be made integral with the base 3 as shown in Figure 2 or may be a separate unit rigidly attached to the base 3. The purpose of the spring latch 10 is to hold the leaf member 6 in closed position, but the spring in the latch 10 is 1932. Serial 1'10. 596,790.

only strong enough to moderately resist the opening of the leaf member 6.

In Figure 3 the device is shown mounted on the underside of a board 1 with the fabric 2 tensioned over a suitable material 12.

In the closed position the projections 7 pass through the openings 8 in the base portion 3 and up into openings 11 in the board 1.

The operation of the device is as follows:

lhe leaf member 6 is first swung to open po- 6 sition as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. The edge of me fabric 2 is then carried around the edge of the leaf member 6 to a point between the projections and the hinge 5, and the fabric is then tensioned by swinging the leaf member 6 to closed position. Obviously, various tensions can be put on the fabric 2, and should the fabric 2 become stretched through constant use, it is only necessary to unlatch the leaf member 6, swing it wider open than at first, pass the edge of the fabric 2 farther around the leaf member 6, and again close the device.

As the leaf member is closed past the spring latch 10, the projections 7 force the fabric into the openings 8 in the base portion 3, thus securely fastening the fabric in position and under the desired tension. By pulling outwardly on the fabric 2 on either side of the device the leaf member 6 is moved past the spring latch 10 and the fabric is released.

Manifestly, the construction shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as is considered within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A fabric tensioning and fastening device comprising two hinged leaf members, one of said members being capable of rigid attachment to a surface and having openings therein to receive corresponding tapered projections carried by the second member when the latter is swung to a position adjacent the 9 first member and an integral spring latch carried by said first member to resist movement of the members from adjacent positions.

2. A fabric tensioning and fastening device comprising two hinged leaf members,

one of said members having openings therein to receive corresponding tapered projections carried by the second leaf member when the two members are swung into adjacent positions, and a spring latch carried by the first of said members to resist movement of the leaf members from adjacent positions.

3. A fabric tensioning and fastening device comprising two leaf members, one of said members being capable of rigid attachment to a surface and having openings therein to receive corresponding tapered projections carried by the second leaf member; the second of said members being hingedly attached to the first of said leaf members, whereby to tension a fabric held around the second of said members as the latter is swung to a position adjacent the first of said leaf members, and an integral spring latch carried by the first of said leaf members to hold said fabric in tensioned position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAMES W. STEELE. 

